The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said that in the ensuing election, broadcasting of results by media before announcements by the Commission might create confusion.

He said that Election Commission (EC) within a week would finalise a code of conduct for the mass media to ensure fair and unbiased coverage of the upcoming election and giving equal opportunities to all political parties.

The CEC was speaking at a function at the city's BIAM auditorium yesterday where UNESCO provided him a draft Code of Conduct for the mass media.

He reiterated the EC's hope that it would be able to hold a free, fair and credible parliamentary poll slated for December 18.

Dr Huda suggested the mass media not to telecast election results before formal announcements made by the EC itself.

"Problems and confusions may arise if the election results are announced by the media before the Commission's announcement," he explained.

"There is no guideline how the media should cover an election. So, there should be a code of conduct for them," Dr Huda said.

He said the commission is expected to finalize the code of conduct for the mass media within a week in consultation with political parties, civil society members and media personnel. "We may need to sit with the Press Council too to discuss it," he added.

"There exists, however, no provision for taking any punitive action against any defaulter, as we believe in leaving the rest with the media houses and their ethics," reassured the CEC on the proposed code of conduct.

He, however, made it clear that the cost of advertisements of candidate on satellite televisions would be considered as election expenditures.

Awami League had demanded of the EC early this month to appoint neutral observers and provide a general code of conduct for the media.

On appointing polls observers, the CEC said that the EC was attaching utmost importance to engaging both national and international observers. "To ensure quality, the Election Commission has started registering such organisations adhering to some guidelines," he said

He said only the eligible and befitting agencies would be registered as polls observers.

Election commissioners Sohul Hossain and M Sakhawat Hossain, and UNESCO Bangladesh resident representative Malama Meleisea were present.